Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to improve services on the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26564/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Our Living Islandspolicy, published by my Department last year, recognises that access between the islands and the mainland is the most fundamental requirement for those living on the islands and is a lifeline for island communities.

My Department currently subsidises 27 passenger, cargo and air services to nineteen of our offshore islands. These services provide reliable, year round mainland connectivity for island communities.

Services are sourced on the open market through public procurement competitions and my Department works consistently to maintain and improve these transport services through the procurement process.

Before the publication of a tender, my Department’s officials engage in a consultation process with the relevant island community regarding the upcoming competition and their feedback is carefully considered while preparing the tender documentation.

Each tender is adapted to the needs of the island in question, and in recent years, some significant changes have been made to tenders due to feedback from island communities.

Following the award of a contract, my officials engage on an ongoing basis with both service operators and island communities to ensure that the service is being delivered as required and to facilitate any discussion that may be necessary. In recent years, as part of these engagements with stakeholders, my Department has received feedback regarding the cost of the carriage of cargo to the islands on subsidised services.

The publication of the Our Living Islands policy was accompanied by an Action Plan for the period 2023-2026, and this plan includes a measure to review the cost of transporting goods on subsidised cargo services for future contracts, with particular emphasis on the carriage of building materials.

My Department will continue to engage and consult with stakeholders in the future regarding transport services to the islands and will continue to facilitate any improvements that can be achieved.